AU vs. VMI

Deciding between Anderson University and Virginia Military Institute? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Anderson University
Virginia Military Institute

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Anderson, SC
  • VMI Lexington, VA
  • Setting
  • AU Small City
  • VMI Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 4,710
  • VMI 1,527
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • VMI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #662
  • VMI #123
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU Baptist
  • VMI -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • VMI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • VMI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $34,970
  • VMI $21,046
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $34,970
  • VMI $52,638
  • Room & Board
  • AU $12,720
  • VMI $11,310
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $24,434
  • VMI $18,825
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $25,969
  • VMI $23,821
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 98%
  • VMI 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 4,548
  • VMI 2,066
  • Admitted
  • AU 2,488
  • VMI 1,472
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 54.7%
  • VMI 71.2%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 32.5%
  • VMI 31.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1190
  • VMI 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 25
  • VMI 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.72
  • VMI 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • VMI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Challenging
  • VMI Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • VMI Low
  • ACT Range
  • AU 22/29
  • VMI 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1100/1280
  • VMI 1050/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • VMI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU
  • VMI Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 13:1
  • VMI 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Education (37%)
    • Business (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (4%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • VMI
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • History (14%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 48%
  • VMI 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $37,500
  • VMI $62,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 60%
  • VMI 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $26,862
  • VMI $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $277
  • VMI $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 42%
  • VMI 86%
  • % Women
  • AU 58%
  • VMI 14%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU Very Low
  • VMI Low
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • VMI No
  • % White
  • AU 83%
  • VMI 80%
  • % Asian
  • AU 1%
  • VMI 4%
  • % Black
  • AU 8%
  • VMI 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 3%
  • VMI 5%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 2%
  • VMI 2%
  • % International
  • AU 1%
  • VMI 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 2%
  • VMI 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 69%
  • VMI 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 30%
  • VMI 35%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • VMI Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • VMI Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • VMI Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • VMI No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU No
  • VMI No

Comparable Facts

Compare Anderson University in Anderson, SC with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Anderson University is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (4,710 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Anderson University is located in Anderson, SC (Small City setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
  • Anderson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Anderson University 13:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

AU vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or VMI? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Military Institute than AU ($18,825 vs. $24,434).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 11.1% lower than at Anderson University ($11,310 vs. $12,720).
  • Anderson University is 66.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than VMI (about $13,924 more per year; $34,970.00 vs. $21,046.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 50.5% higher at VMI than at Anderson University (about $17,668 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $34,970.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Anderson University than at Virginia Military Institute (98% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 9% larger than aid received by Virginia Military Institute students ($25,969 vs. $23,821).

AU vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or VMI? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between VMI and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Anderson University (1190) is 30 points higher than at VMI (1160).
  • Incoming VMI students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Anderson University 1100/1280; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Anderson University 22/29; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VMI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at VMI (3.65).
  • VMI has a higher acceptance rate (71.2%) than AU (54.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 32.5% at AU vs. 31.7% at VMI.

AU vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and VMI? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Virginia Military Institute's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Anderson University's (48%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $24,600 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $37,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Military Institute graduates have a $1,862 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,862).
  • Among borrowers, VMI graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($258 vs. $277).
  • More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.